Wages

Dentist Salary in Canada | Breakdown by Province

In Canada, the median wage for dentists is $110,000 per year.

Dentist Salary in Canada

Dentists in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

Dentists in Canada, classified under NOC 31110, diagnose, treat, prevent and control disorders of the teeth and mouth while working in private practice, hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities. Approximately 21,400 people worked in this occupation in 2023, with 42 percent aged 50 and over and a median retirement age of 63. Job prospects show a strong risk of labour shortage nationally through 2033, with about 15,000 projected job openings substantially exceeding the expected 8,500 job seekers, driven by employment growth above the national average and significant replacement demand from retirements.

Median annual earnings stand at about 110,000 Canadian dollars nationally, with actual incomes varying widely often reaching 200,000 to 300,000 dollars or more for established practitioners in private practice depending on location, specialization, patient volume and business ownership. Most positions require a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, successful completion of national licensing examinations, and provincial registration, with work conditions generally involving full-time hours in clean, well-equipped clinical settings that may include evenings or Saturdays to suit patient needs, along with precise manual dexterity, patient interaction, and adherence to infection control and radiation safety standards.

Licensing

Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories for this occupation.

Other Health Occupations: Anesthesiologist, Family Doctor, Dental Hygienist

DENTIST (NOC 31110)
2025Wages/yr
Community/AreaLowMedianHigh
Canada32,867110,000228,000
Newfoundland & LN/A180,000N/A
Prince Edward IslandN/AN/AN/A
Nova ScotiaN/A126,000N/A
New BrunswickN/A132,000N/A
Quebec34,137106,000228,000
Ontario37,561104,000210,000
ManitobaN/A116,000N/A
SaskatchewanN/A110,000N/A
Alberta32,867120,000270,000
British Columbia37,92984,000214,000
Yukon TerritoryN/AN/AN/A
Northwest TerritoriesN/AN/AN/A
NunavutN/AN/AN/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

 

In 2017, salaries for dentists didn’t change.

DENTISTS (NOC 3113-A)
 2017Wages ($/yr)
Province/TerritoryLowMedianHigh
Canada39,061119,595262,513
Manitoba44,914120,265337,472
Saskatchewan39,424126,567292,183
Alberta65,561124,677279,705
Québec40,599121,233276,297
Ontario45,415121,251261,709
British Columbia24,15584,991179,832
New BrunswickN/AN/AN/A
Newfoundland & LN/AN/AN/A
Northwest TerritoriesN/AN/AN/A
Nova ScotiaN/AN/AN/A
NunavutN/AN/AN/A
Prince Edward IslandN/AN/AN/A
YukonN/AN/AN/A
Source: Job Bank. September 2017*

According to Canada’s Job Bank, in 2016, the median wage for dentists in Canada was $119,595/year.

Dentists in Manitoba reported the highest salaries.

DENTISTS (NOC 3113-A)
 2016

Wages ($/yr)

Province/TerritoryLowMedianHigh
Canada39,061119,595262,513
Manitoba44,914120,265337,472
Saskatchewan39,424126,567292,183
Alberta65,561124,677279,705
Québec40,599121,233276,297
Ontario45,415121,251261,709
British Columbia24,15584,991179,832
New BrunswickN/AN/AN/A
Newfoundland & LN/AN/AN/A
Northwest TerritoriesN/AN/AN/A
Nova ScotiaN/AN/AN/A
NunavutN/AN/AN/A
Prince Edward IslandN/AN/AN/A
YukonN/AN/AN/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

 

DENTIST SALARY IN CANADA (2017)